Policies

Four Roar players get Westfield Matildas nod for Olympic qualifiers

Four Brisbane Roar players have been named in a Westfield Matildas squad that later this month will bid to qualifying for the Rio Olympic Games in August.

Defender Clare Polkinghorne, midfielder Tameka Butt and Katrina Gorry and forward Emily Gielnik were included in a 20-player squad announced today by Westfield Matildas Head Coach Alen Stajcic.

Polkinghorne has been named co-captain with Melbourne City's Lisa De Vanna.

Gielnik is among five players who were selected in this squad after not being part of the Westfield Matildas that reached the quarter-finals of last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. The others are Caitlin Cooper, Chloe Logarzo, Aivi Luik and goalkeeper Casey Dumont.

“Emily Gielnik had a good W-League season and has been impressive when she has come into camp adding a good bit of pace and power to our front line,” Stajcic said.

Polkinghorne will be looking to add to her 80 international caps (five goals). Butt has 52 caps (seven goals); Gorry has 38 caps (11 goals) and Gielnik has seven caps.

The Australia’s national women’s team has not featured in the Olympic Games since 2004.

The squad will depart on Monday morning for the qualifying tournament in Osaka, Japan from 29 February to 9 March.

The Westfield Matildas will play five matches in 10 days with the top two nations at the end of the round robin format booking a place at Rio 2016.